Category: My Personal Journey
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Gorge Waterfalls 30K Race Recap – Penguins 🐧
I wasn’t meant to be in this race. I mean, to the extent where my bib still said ’50K’ on the day. While 30K might not ever be my race distance of choice, I felt fortunate to even make it to the start-line. Seven months of dealing with this injury on and off has taught…
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Injured again: But life’s not about the short term, anyway
My injury has come back! But any kind of catastrophizing any more isn’t going to help. Instead I have to channel all my anger over the situation into genuine smiles and laughter, and hope for better in the long-term future, even if not the short-term. Life’s not about the short-term anyway.
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28
I can remember when birthdays felt like the biggest deal in the world. When for that entire day, my normal veins had been replaced by ones bursting with invincibility. When East Side Mario’s’ all you can eat salad and bread still hit so hard. This year, no one even knew! If it hadn’t been for…
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The rebound effect
There’s something powerful in the post-injury experience. In the immediacy of the weeks and months following an injury. You’re still weary. You’re still hot dogging every downhill, expecting for every step to hurt. But over time, when you learn those steps no longer hurt like they used to, you gain confidence. Over time, you realize…
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Why I use XACT Nutrition
I have now been an ambassador for the brand for almost two years, and write this article as a way of shining the light on the brand that has most rapidly helped to accelerate my own development in the sport. This is partially a love letter, and partially an explanation as to why I use…
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You are not the imposter
For the past two years, I’ve existed in my sport as a professional athlete. The term is loosely defined in a sport like mine. For one, because there’s no clear-cut definition. For another, you can so clearly compare your results to others, thus never feeling good enough. For a double ‘nother, because of Imposter Syndrome.…
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Standing out of the spotlight
As you go through your bucket list to life, or even your resolutions to the year, continue to remember what matters most to you, and where you want to spend the majority of your time. You don’t need the extra meaning in your life in seven different directions. You definitely don’t need the spotlight. You…
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You always wanted me to write one
I’m now in the home stretch of my Christmas Countdown, writing articles inspired by each of my favourite songs to listen to in 2024. I told myself that no matter what, I’d find a way to work in my three favourite songs of this year. So even though this one hits hard as a breakup…
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The past doesn’t matter, you do
You don’t need me to tell you how difficult it can be to truly live in the present. I bet you’ve thought about the uncertain future that lies ahead, or the negatives that you thought you left behind every single day this week. I have too. It’s one thing to say that the past is…
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That’s what time does
Change has been afoot throughout 2024 and it’s been a stark reminder of what Miley Cyrus so often says in her songs – no one stays the same. Who we were yesterday is not always who we are today. But what I might not have anticipated when writing either of those pieces is just how…
Rhys Desmond 